CHAPTER 360: CHAPTER 362: HUSBAND AND WIFE (PART 3)

Xiqiu absolutely believed this. For instance, those two days when Xiao Yanting and the Fifth Madam quarreled fiercely, in the end, a few words from the Fifth Madam pacified him, and he followed her back.

Perhaps only Fourth Master Xiao’s method was better: give a slap and then a date. Just looking at Xiao Yanting’s expression at the study door, one could guess there was a significant turmoil within his heart!

Fourth Master Xiao did not want to talk about the Fifth Young Master much, so Xiqiu simply changed the topic: "Would Fourth Master like to freshen up, change clothes, and rest for a while?" Noticing his weary appearance, it was evident he had entered the mansion early in the morning and possibly hadn’t rested since traveling all night last night.

Fourth Master Xiao rubbed his forehead and said to Xiqiu, "I’ll go in and change clothes." Xiqiu opened the door for Chunliu to bring water, and once the hot water was ready, Fourth Master Xiao went into the cleansing room.

Xiqiu placed the laundered clothes prepared a few days ago on the round table in the cleansing room. When Fourth Master Xiao finished washing behind the screen and came out, he saw the neatly arranged clothes on the table, his gaze softened, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

Xiqiu placed a bowl of porridge and several side dishes on the table. Watching Fourth Master Xiao come out refreshed after his bath, with his cheeks now clean-shaven, she smiled and said, "Fourth Master, have something to eat and then take a nap."

Without speaking, Fourth Master Xiao sat down at the table and slowly sipped the porridge as Xiqiu watched him.

"What’s wrong?" Fourth Master Xiao put down his bowl and chopsticks and looked at Xiqiu carefully. Today she wore an elegant green high-neck wide-sleeve overcoat with a simple bun in her hair adorned with two pink-white pearl flowers, thin and gentle, sitting there with a light smile. He thought of the grievances she had suffered but still presented herself with a cheerful façade, causing his heart to soften even more, his voice carrying unnoticeable indulgence.

"Nothing," Xiqiu replied, calling Chunliu to clean up the bowls and chopsticks and refill a cup of hot tea for Fourth Master Xiao. She then sat down opposite him and smiled, saying, "I just want to chat with Fourth Master."

Fourth Master Xiao seemed to know what Xiqiu wanted to ask and slowly replied after taking a sip of tea, "In the courtyard, there is a Nanny Cen. If you want to know anything, just have someone fetch her. She knows the affairs of the mansion better than I do!"

Xiqiu was surprised and asked, "Nanny Cen?"

Fourth Master Xiao replied, "Before I moved out of the Marquis Mansion, she was the housekeeper nanny in my quarters. Later, I was gone for several years, and she went to the kitchen. This time upon moving back, Tianyi fetched her over!" He paused then added, "She doesn’t talk much but is quite shrewd, and she sees all the affairs of the mansion."

So there was such a person, and she had been completely unaware!

Xiqiu smiled and nodded, "Understood!" Then she said, "Shall I attend to Fourth Master for a rest then?" As she spoke, she took a quilt from the cabinet at the head of the kang and spread it out on the kang, turning to look at Fourth Master Xiao, "I’ll wake you before lunch."

But Fourth Master Xiao stood up and embraced her, slightly raising an eyebrow, "Stay with me for a while."

Xiqiu blushed, hastily pushing him away, and while tidying the bedding, she turned back saying, "There are still many affairs in the courtyard, and I need to check on Chunyan..." Fourth Master Xiao was full of joy, pecked her on the cheek, and then lay down on the kang in his clothes, soon falling asleep.

Xiqiu let out a sigh of relief, gently closed the door, and called Chunliu, "Do you know of a Nanny Cen in the courtyard?"

"Yes!" Chunliu nodded, "She works in the kitchen with Nanny Liu, managing the hot water used by the madam and Fourth Master daily... How come Madam suddenly asks about Nanny Cen?"

Having no impression of this person, Xiqiu said to Chunliu, "Go and find Nanny Cen for me, I have questions for her!"

Chunliu acknowledged and shortly returned with a short, dark-skinned woman in her fifties wearing an elegant green jiaao, who bowed to Xiqiu and said, "What orders does Madam have?"

Xiqiu allowed her to rise and asked, "Are you Nanny Cen?" Nanny Cen replied, "I don’t deserve the title; my husband’s family name is Cen!"

"Alright." Xiqiu nodded and had Chunliu bring a stool, inviting Nanny Cen to sit. She asked, "I have just entered the mansion and am not very familiar with many affairs. Fourth Master said you are a long-timer here, so he suggested I ask you!"

Nanny Cen always kept her head low, only glancing at Xiqiu out of the corner of her eye, respectfully responding, "Please ask, Madam; this servant will tell all she knows."

Xiqiu thought for a moment and asked, "A year ago, someone from the Teng Family came to the mansion causing trouble. Do you know what it was about at that time?"

Nanny Cen’s face showed a little hesitation. After a moment of thought, she replied, "At that time, it was for two matters. The first was the Teng Family wanted to take Madam Teng back. The Grand Dowager and the Marquis did not oppose and let Madam Teng choose for herself. Madam Teng chose to stay, kneeling before First Master Teng, claiming she was born to be the Marquis’ person and would die as a ghost of Mrs. Xiao. Even if she couldn’t enter the ancestors’ shrine, she would not regret her life serving the Marquis in the Marquis Mansion!"

Teng Qiuniang did not return. Even if the Teng Family was unwilling for her to stay, they couldn’t forcibly bind her back. This matter alone couldn’t have caused a scandal. Which meant the main reason was still the second matter!

Xiqiu asked indifferently, "And what was the second matter?"

Nanny Cen’s gaze flickered, appearing hesitant, as if deliberating whether to speak.

Xiqiu was secretly puzzled, intuitively feeling this matter might be significantly related to Tong Xihua, causing Nanny Cen to consider her feelings and hesitate about speaking.

"Nanny, feel free to say it!"

Nanny Cen thought for a while, cautiously glancing at Xiqiu. Upon seeing her smiling warmly as if encouraged, she then slowly said, "This is a long story. It was when the Fourth Madam was present!" Xiqiu was taken aback, and Nanny Cen continued, "At that time, Second Madam Tong fell seriously ill, her health deteriorating day by day... But then Teng Qiuniang got close to the Grand Dowager and was taken in by the Second Young Master. Second Madam Tong perhaps felt discontent, and after a few days, her condition worsened. On the night before she passed, she had her servant poison a meal shared by the Fifth Madam and Teng Qiuniang with some drug. Initially, the Fifth Madam and Teng Qiuniang felt nothing, but later they experienced unbearable abdominal pain. Subsequently, whenever their period came, it would persist for half a month and even lead to signs of hemorrhaging!"

Nanny Cen paused, carefully watching Xiqiu before continuing, "They summoned dozens of Imperial Physicians, but none could diagnose the ailment. Later, the Teng Family found a traveling doctor who confirmed it as being affected by a kind of Miao Poison. The specific poison is unclear to this servant, but it was very fierce, and because of this, the Fifth Madam and Teng Qiuniang could never conceive again!

It was impossible for the Fifth Madam and Teng Qiuniang to allow others to poison them. Since they hadn’t realized it for a long time, it meant Tong Xihua was very covert at the time. After some thought, Xiqiu asked, "How did it become known that Second Madam Tong did the poisoning?"

Nanny Cen looked at Xiqiu, a hint of fear in her eyes, "The Grand Dowager detained all the maids left by Second Madam Tong for questioning. Later, a nanny surnamed Song confessed that the poison was placed in the Fifth Madam and Teng Qiuniang’s meals that night with her and Nanny Lin, Second Madam Tong’s side servant!"